Chop · 02 Editorial guide
China Company Chops: Custody, Authority and Binding Effect
A chop can bind when a signature would not, and the reverse can also be true. Custody is part of the file.
First job Map which chop is required and who holds it before treating a stamp as a contract.
Start here
Key considerations
The first questions are about urgency, governance and preservation — before collection expands or interviews begin.
- Which chop is on the page — company, contract, finance?
- Who physically holds it?
- Is the dispute about a missing chop or a stolen one?
Direct answer
What this page decides
02
This page owns chop control. Company, contract, finance and legal-representative chops are different tools. Custody, fake chops and ‘we chopped the wrong entity’ are first-class risks. E-signature validity is the next L4.
At a glance
Which fact changes the next route
Use the fact that changes ownership or urgency to decide the next move.
| Question | Why it matters | Next route |
|---|---|---|
| Scan vs wet chop? | E-signatures L4. |
Scope
What this page owns — and what it does not
Practical workflow
Action, evidence, legal gate, output
| Action | Documents / evidence | Legal gate | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory chops | Specimen, custodian | One log | Register |
| Match chop to act | Contract vs finance vs HR | Wrong chop risk | Protocol |
| Record use | Chop log | M&A day-one | Evidence |
Documents
What to gather before the next call
These items help clarify the file; they are not a legal requirement list.
| Item | Why needed | Who holds it | Risk if missing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chop specimens and log | Authenticity | Admin | Forgery fight |
Common failure points
Where files usually break
Leaving all chops with the outgoing GM after closing.
FAQ
Narrow follow-ups owned by this page
Does a contract chop always bind?
Often powerful in practice, but authority, forgery and the Civil Code/Company Law facts still matter. Counsel on the dispute.
Decision map
Keep the question bounded.
- Name the chopType and whether it matches the entity.
- Name custodyWho may use it, and the log.
- Match executionE-signature questions sit on the execution route.
Quick answers
Need the short version? Start with one narrow question.
These explainers answer one question. They do not replace this topic route or a deep guide.
Curated resources
Open the asset that matches this job.
China business contracts practical guide
National counterparty, chop, bilingual and performance map — not a title file.
China company chops: legal effect and control
When a stamp binds, and when custody is the real risk.
Company chop control SOP
Custody and use as an operating file, not a logo.
Helpful to prepare
Facts that make the next conversation clearer.
These items are orientation aids, not a legal requirement list.
Counsel hand-off
What to bring when you instruct
Instruct corporate/commercial counsel. Bring: specimens, log, and the disputed document.
Local context
Add the city when the forum practice changes.
Court and notary practice can matter after the national contract question is identified.
Open city and province guidesCounsel hand-off
Need contract counsel?
This hub organises parties, chops, drafting and performance. It does not create a binding contract or decide a breach on your facts.
Find contract counselLegal review
Who reviewed this guide
Need qualified counsel?
Move carefully. Move with a record.
Use the portal to identify counsel for this practice and related China-side issues.